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What is Gamma Iota Sigma?
Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) is an international fraternity focused on risk management and insurance. GIS connects students and risk management professionals to promote industry growth, academic success, and continued research. Since its founding in 1965, GIS has grown to almost 100 chapters in the United States and Canada and has roughly 5,000 current student members.
The GIS chapter at UT Dallas was chartered in March of 2016. Professor Steven Haynes, the director of the risk management and insurance program at UT Dallas, serves as the faculty advisor for the organization. Alumni and current members of the chapter have obtained internships and jobs at high-profile companies like Allstate, BlueCross BlueShield, JP Morgan Chase, Liberty Mutual, and State Farm.
Gamma Iota Sigma at UT Dallas
Alena Nguyen, president of Gamma Iota Sigma at UT Dallas for the 2022-2023 academic year, says that GIS aims to make activities both fun and educational to fully engage students. One of the notable activities that GIS hosts is the disaster movie night, where films like Twister and The Wave are viewed and discussed.
While Hollywood might glorify the details, natural disasters play a real role in risk management and insurance. GIS’s disaster movie nights can start lively conversations about what happens in the event of an actual disaster, and how real industry professionals in risk management might respond. Professor Steven Haynes says he used the viewing of Twister to discuss how emergency warning systems have evolved.
GIS students can also take advantage of networking events and participate in industry conferences like DFW RIMS and the Houston Marine and Energy Insurance Conference. The fraternity serves to foster friendships and connections between like-minded students and professionals.
“We prioritize community in an industry that seems big, but is actually really, really small.” GIS President Nguyen says.
What do JSOM students take away from GIS?
GIS Vice President Arya Sefidgar-Djedi says that talking to insurance professionals and being able to ask them questions about the industry has helped him shape the course for his future.
“It’s developed into a lot more of a learning experience than just a title on my resume.” Sefidgar-Djedi says.
GIS President Nguyen says that her involvement in the organization has helped her build confidence and develop networking skills. After stepping into her role as president, Nguyen says she felt encouraged to promote the academic growth of others.
“To see an industry give back to students, it also makes me want to, as a student, give back to other students.” GIS President Nguyen says. “I think once they join the program and are invested in it, they will reap a lot more benefits than they initially thought that they would.”
In addition to community and professional networking, GIS also presents risk management students with opportunities to obtain special scholarships.
Getting Involved in Gamma Iota Sigma
More engaging activities are on the horizon for GIS at UT Dallas. In addition to the regular disaster movie night and networking events, professor Haynes plans an upcoming paintball competition with the UNT risk management club and a partnership with the Dallas Fort Worth airport to have GIS members involved in the annual mass-casualty drill.
GIS is open to students of all majors and accepts membership applications on a rolling basis. To get involved, students can use the form on the UT Dallas GIS website, or they can contact the GIS member relations chair, Ben Davis.
